Bird feeder post and device to inhibit squirrels

ABSTRACT

A new post and squirrel barrier for bird feeders is disclosed with a post, a shroud assembly, and an ornamental plaque, where the shroud has an inverse tapered exterior and it is also suspended and allowed to have a defined range of motion in response to an attempt by a squirrel (or other animal) to climb the bird feeder post. The invention also includes a integrated auger for enhanced installation of the post into the ground.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to Provisional Patent filing, Ser.No. 60-624,436, filed on or about Nov. 2, 2004, and entitled, “A BirdFeeder Post and Device to Inhibit Squirrels.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a bird feeder apparatus. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to a post for suspending orholding a bird feeder, where the post incorporates a device for thepurpose of inhibiting squirrels (or other animals) from climbing thepost or otherwise gaining access to the bird feeder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Millions of people around the world enjoy feeding birds, in many caseswith bird feeders hanging from posts in their yards. This enjoyment isfrequently interrupted by the sight of a squirrel climbing up the postand stealing the birdseed from the feeder. Many devices and tactics havebeen developed over time to deter squirrels (and other such pests) fromtheir thievery. The efficacy of such prior art attempts have beennotably lacking and have left the avid bird feeder owner with less thanthe desired result.

Various approaches that have been taken to thwart the backyard piracytypically look to inserting a barrier between the squirrel and the birdfeeder. Such devices include a cylindrical shaped barriers such asdisclosed in U.S. Design Pat. No. 449,719, or flat disc-shaped devicessuch as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,523,546, or inverted disc-shapeddevices such as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,348, or dome-shapeddevices like the version shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,031,856.

Other approaches include the use of devices that dynamically interruptthe access by a squirrel through the use of motion, such as that shownin U.S. Pat. No. 6,532,894 where the up-and-down motion of that devicediscourages the squirrel from climbing the post for a bird feeder.Self-help remedies that are known include the selective use of noise orlights, or in the extreme, shooting the offending animals.

The problems associated with the prior art devices is that they stillhave do not reach the satisfaction level of the user insofar aspreventing the raids on the birdseed. Sometimes this arises from thesquirrel's uncanny ability to “learn” the approach for deterrence and toseek ways to evade the device. This is true because the prior artdevices known to the applicants rely upon a single effect to bar thesquirrels' from climbing, when the use of multiple effects create a muchgreater degree of difficulty for the animal. In addition, it is anotherproblem associated with the prior art, that the devices that are madefor installation onto a supporting post for a bird feeding station donot fit each application uniformly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A post for a bird feeder in accordance with the present invention,comprises a post with a top and a bottom, where the top portion includesa means for hanging or holding a bird feeder, and where the bottomportion includes a tip suitable for planting the post in the ground, andwhere a shroud is resiliently suspended in annular alignment, and isgenerally disposed in the middle portion of said post. The shroud iscylindrical and is somewhat conical in configuration, whereby the shroudis tapered towards the bottom of the post.

An enhancement of the present invention includes an ornamental plaquethat is mounted onto the top of the post and provides a decorativefeature to the assembly which may include graphic depictions and/orsculpted or embossed reliefs that would appeal to the homeowner.

The shroud is biasedly suspended by a spring assembly that allowssimultaneous vertical, lateral, and/or forward-and-back movement when asquirrel attempts to climb onto the shroud.

Other embodiments of the present invention include a version of a shroudassembly that can be installed on a previously installed post, and whichcan be installed by a homeowner.

These and other attributes of the present invention will be shown inmore detail below, however, it is understood that the description of theinvention herein is not intended to be limiting in terms of its form andapplications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the bird feeder post of the presentinvention as installed and ready for use.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the bird feeder post of FIG. 1,with specific components detailed.

FIG. 2( a) is a cross sectional view of a mid-portion of the post of thepresent invention, showing the interior of the shroud (without theshroud cap).

FIG. 2( b) is a detail of a side view of the post of the presentinvention, showing a joint for post segments.

FIG. 2( c) is a detail of a side view of the post of the presentinvention, showing the bottom end of the post, specifically disclosingthe connection of an auger tip to the post.

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the shroud of the present invention(without the cap).

FIG. 4 is a top view of the shroud of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of the post and the universal ringsupport mounted thereon.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the universal ring support of FIG. 5, as mountedon a post.

FIG. 6( a) is a detail of the universal ring support as shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of a shroud assembly of the presentinvention as mounted onto a post, with a cutout disclosing the universalring support and the engagement of the springs between it and theshroud.

FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of the shroud assembly of FIG. 7showing the shroud cap and the installation alignment for same.

FIG. 9 is a side perspective view of an alternate embodiment for ashroud assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of an alternate embodiment for ashroud assembly of the present invention, as mounted on a post.

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the top portion of the post of thepresent invention, showing the ornamental plaque and the support forhanging or holding a bird feeder.

FIG. 12 is a side perspective view of the ornamental plaque of thepresent invention, in alignment for installation onto the top of thepost.

FIG. 13 is a side perspective view of two post segments of the presentinvention shown in alignment for installation.

FIG. 14 is a side perspective view of the two post segments shown inFIG. 13, in the installed condition.

FIG. 15 is a side elevational view showing another embodiment of ashroud assembly of the present invention, showing in particular, theshroud cap and the universal ring support.

FIG. 16( a) is a side elevational view of the alternate embodimentdepicted in FIG. 15, showing the universal ring support.

FIG. 16( b) is a top view of the universal ring support of FIG. 16( a).

FIG. 16( c) is a top view of the cap portion of the shroud cap assemblyof FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of an alternate embodiment forsecuring a shroud cap to a shroud assembly.

FIG. 18 is a side perspective view showing an alternate embodiment forsecuring a shroud assembly to a post.

FIG. 19 is a side perspective view of a portion of a shroud assembly ofthe present invention in a position to be secured to a post.

FIG. 20 is a side perspective view of an alternate embodiment of theshroud assembly of FIG. 19 as secured to a post.

FIG. 21 is a side perspective view of a portion of an alternate shroudassembly of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a top view of the shroud assembly of FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is a side perspective view of the shroud assembly of FIG. 21shown in relation to its installation onto a post.

FIG. 24 is a side perspective view of the shroud assembly of FIG. 23,oriented in the installed condition and with a two-piece shroud cap.

FIG. 25 is a side perspective view of FIG. 24 with the two-piece shroudcap in the installed condition.

FIG. 26 is a side perspective view of the shroud assembly of FIG. 23,showing the attachment of the springs to the shroud assembly and to thepost.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The bird feeding post of the present invention represents a verysurprising package of safeguards for preventing squirrels and othersmall animals from poaching birdseed from bird feeders. As mentionedabove, this long-standing problem has inspired some responses, however,none have encompassed the multiple methods in such a compact package asis disclosed herein.

Turning to FIG. 1, a bird feeder post of the present invention is showngenerally, with shroud assembly 10, shroud 12, bird feeder support(s)14, ornamental plaque 16, and post 20. The post is further comprised ofthe lower post segment 22, the middle post segment 24 and the upper postsegment 26. The post segments are demarcated by post joints 36. Locatedon the bottom end portion of the lower post segment 22, is the auger 28.

The bird feeder post also includes the post driver orifice 32, thesupport orifice 34 and the eyelet(s) 36. The ornamental plaque 16 alsoincludes the plaque top 40, the plaque base 42 and the plaque base setscrew 44.

As may be observed in FIG. 1, the bird feeder post is represented ashaving been planted into the ground 18. The distance below ground isrepresented by “D” which is typically considered to be 12″ although thiswill vary depending on soil conditions and other factors.

More details of the bird feeder post can be seen in FIG. 2 wheredetailed callouts FIGS. 2( a), 2(b) and 2(c) are provided. Commencingwith FIG. 2( a), the interior of the shroud 12 can be seen, with thepost 20 located concentrically therein. The shroud assembly alsoincludes the upper shroud lip 50, the shroud interior 52, the uppershroud opening 54, and the lower shroud opening 56. Located within theshroud interior 52, is the universal ring support 60 which comprises theuniversal ring 62 and the ring screws 64.

Moving on to FIG. 2( b), the post joint 36 is shown to be formed fromthe insertion of the male post portion 72 into the female post receiver70.

The details in FIG. 2( c) include the auger 28 located at the bottom endof the lower post segment 22, and which itself is comprised of the augerhead 80, the auger base 82, the auger pin 84 and the auger pin orifice86.

FIGS. 3 and 4 disclose elements of the shroud assembly, notably theshroud 12 which also includes the lower shroud lip 58, the lower shroudflange 59, the shroud hook flange 90 and the shroud hook opening 92.

FIGS. 5 & 6 reveal features associated with the post 20 and theuniversal ring support 60, where the screws 64 include the screw head(s)94, the screw body 96 and the screw end 98. The universal ring supportincludes the ring support screw hole 100 and the ring support joint 102,located across from the ring support flange 106(a) and 106(b) withcorresponding ring support flange screw holes 108(a) and 108(b) and withring support screw 104. The universal ring also has ring support springholes 109 disposed about its circumference.

Turning now to FIG. 7, the preferred embodiment for suspending theshroud 12 from the post 20 is shown. The universal ring support 60 isseen with the universal ring 62 and the ring screws 64. The shroudincludes the shroud cap 110, and the shroud cap opening 112 and theshroud cap flange 114. Extending from between the universal ring and theshroud interior are two springs 120 with upper spring ends 122 and lowerspring ends 124. The universal ring support, as will be discussed below,is fixed to the post in the position shown, by engagement of the upperspring end (which terminates in a hook shape) with the ring supportspring holes 109. The shroud, being connected to the universal ringsupport by means of the springs, is free to move in at least a verticaldirection which is indicated by the directional arrows 116. In thisdepiction, the shroud is unloaded since there is no squirrel attemptingto traverse the structure, therefore the shroud, relative to the post,is in a resting condition. If a squirrel were to climb onto the shroud,the directional arrows 116 show the direction of travel that the shroudwould take relative to the post.

With respect to the foregoing, the bird feeder post of the preferredembodiment utilizes a tapered shroud (with related components, theshroud assembly) positioned somewhat in the middle of a post suitablefor supporting bird feeders. The tapered construction is meant todecrease the amount of purchase that an animal like a squirrel canobtain when confronting the shroud, which assists in inhibiting theanimal from climbing further. For the purposes of the discussion, anyreference made to a squirrel is meant also to encompass any other animalthat may constitute a pest when it comes to preserving bird feed forbirds. Thus ferrets, weasels, rodents, and any other animal that earnsit's living by climbing, would be the intended pests that the inventionwould be directed towards.

The angle of the taper (relative to a fixed reference such as the post)is not critical except it is preferred to maximize the angle to theextent possible without exceeding cosmetic considerations. The moreangle the animal has to overcome, in essence, the better. The preferredembodiment is shown in frusto-conical configuration although it isunderstood that other geometric configurations could be used as well,including parallelograms, oval cylinders and any other configurationthat would impart am angle that would frustrate the animal. In thepreferred embodiment, the shroud is a one-piece item and comes as acomponent of a kit containing the post and the plaque assemblies. Sinceall the parts are made for compatible assembly, the shroud cap fits overthe top of the post and the shroud cap opening is sized to allow a smallamount of clearance. The clearance has to be sufficient to allow theshroud cap to “rock” a few degrees relative to the post when the animalis attempting to climb the shroud. The reason for this requirement comesfrom the lower shroud opening 56 (which is seen in FIG. 2( a)) and whichis viewable (but not called out) in FIG. 4. The lower shroud opening islarger than the shroud cap opening which means that the shroud is freeto move laterally and front-to-back (as well as vertically) about thepost. This movement is more exaggerated at the lower shroud opening thanat the shroud cap which is the preferred result.

It can now be appreciated that an animal attempting to traverse theshroud will be confronting multiple effects. The shroud will react tothe weight of the animal by vertical displacement while at the same timethe shroud movement is able to be experienced in several ways dependingon the imbalance that is achieved by the weight of the animal. Forinstance, the unlucky squirrel will soon find itself being moved aboutin three dimensions and in a random pattern that will change as thesquirrel attempts to correct his balance. This multiple effect, coupledwith the tapered shroud, maximizes the inhibiting effects of the presentinvention.

One skilled in the art can appreciate that the shroud can be adjusted tomove with greater or lesser effect, which can be adjusted to fit thecircumstance. In fact, it is a feature of the present invention that theeffect can be modified to meet the needs for any particular animal thatmay be encountered by increasing the length of the springs, and/or byincreasing the amount of “rock” that can be imparted to the shroud.

Placement of the shroud assembly onto the post can commence before thebird feeder post is assembled. The universal ring support is positionedas may be indicated by the manufacturer or as may be desired by the enduser. The universal ring is merely slid over the top of a post segmentand is thereafter secured to the post directly by means of the ringscrews. The ring screws are tightened down until the screw ends contactthe post and enough tension is created to firmly engage the universalring to the post. The screws may have winged tops for turning by hand orthey may be slotted screws turnable by a driver.

As was discussed above, the upper spring ends are connected to theuniversal ring by means of hook engagement with the ring support springholes 109. A similar situation results for connection of the lowerspring ends to the shroud through the shroud hook openings 92. In theat-rest condition, the shroud is substantially centered about the postand the spring bias it to keep it relatively vertical. It is only whenthe animal attempts to mount the shroud that the multiple displacementsoccur. One aspect of the preferred embodiment is when the universalsupport ring is used, the amount of travel can be adjusted so that theshroud cap can bottom out on top of the universal ring itself Thisimparts an abrupt stop to the downward travel of the shroud assemblywhich is considered to be a beneficial effect given that it will tend todislodge a squirrel that is trying to react to the myriad other effectsit is experiencing.

The shroud assembly, once affixed to the post segment, is integratedinto the post construction as all of the post segments aretelescopically connected. This feature is depicted in FIGS. 13 and 14and is relevant for any embodiment using a multi-piece postconstruction. Specifically, the post 20 is made up of segments that arefitted together by means of the insertion of the male post portion 72into the female post receiver 70. The lower post segment may be fittedwith the auger beforehand, where the auger base is inserted into thebottom of the lower post segment and is retained by the auger pin whichis inserted into the auger pin orifices in the lower post segment. Theend result is a firmly engaged auger base. At this point, the user mayinsert a bar of some length, into the post driver orifice, and thenusing the mechanical leverage thus obtained, turn the lower port segment(or the whole post assembly) causing the auger tip to bite into anddrive the bottom of the post into the ground. The depth, as indicated inFIG. 1, is typically about 12″ or so and will vary depending on soilconditions, the anticipated weight of the entire bird feeder post andbird feeder, and the location. In the alternate, it would be possible toforego the usage of an auger altogether and to insert the bottom of thepost into a posthole for instance, and fill it with cement. Thepreferred embodiment, however, is to supply an auger with the birdfeeder post so as to enhance the ease of installation for people whoneed or want a quick do-it-yourself project.

The universal ring support is provided in the preferred embodiment withthe intention that it can easily be installed onto the post. Theuniversal ring typically provides a gap between it and the circumferenceof the post to which it is attached. The ring screws can be threadedthrough the universal ring and contact the post directly, the tension befixed to make sure the universal ring support, and the shroud assembly,are adequately suspended. This gap also allows the universal ringsupport to be used in different sized applications, hence the term“universal.” The universal ringjoint 102 allows the ring to be expandedfor those times when it is not possible to thread the universal ringonto a post or post segment. Given that the opposing location on thering is open, at the corresponding universal ring flanges 106(a) and106(b), the ring may be spread sufficiently to allow it to be installedonto a post.

In the preferred embodiment the shroud may be fixed to the springs bymeans of the shroud hook flanges and their corresponding through holes.The flanges may be formed up from metal from the shroud directly, whichcan be easily done by a metal punch, for instance. A suitable throughhole might be drilled or punched first, then a tab containing thethrough hole would be punched and turned into position. In thealternate, right-angled brackets can be formed separately and thenwelded or affixed to the sidewall interior to the shroud. Other methodsfor affixing the lower spring ends are known, including directly weldingthem to the shroud interior, gluing them, or affixing them with rivetsor other fasteners. One skilled in the art will appreciate that manysuitable methods may be used for this purpose without departing from thespirit of the invention.

The shroud cap is installed onto the top edge of the shroud with theshroud cap flange extending around the outer circumference. Alignment ofthe shroud cap holes with similar corresponding hole near the top edgeof the shroud provides a means for securing the cap to the shroud byusing sheet metal screws or other fasteners. The shroud cap is thenaffirmatively engaged which helps to prevent any smaller animals, onesthat might be small or agile enough to wedge their way into the interiorof the shroud at the lower opening, from proceeding any further sincethe cap opening is much more closely fitted to the post. Thisarrangement also helps to protect the interior of the shroud from theweather and from debris being lodged therein.

The ornamental plaque is a feature that enhances the cosmetics of thebird feeder post. It can be configured with an artistic design, or arelief, or it can portray an affinity symbol such as a sports team, afavorite college, or other treatment. The plaque is interchangeable andmounts easily to the top of the post. More specifically, in accordancewith the teachings of FIG. 11, the ornamental plaque 16 is comprised ofthe plaque top 40, the plaque base 42, the plaque through hole 160 andthe plaque base opening 162. It is assembled onto the post top 164 wherethe plaque base opening 162 is aligned with the post top through hole166. The top portion of the post also includes support orifices 170, oneof which is shown with a support installed. The support includes theeyelets 34, which are further associated with the eyelet head 172 andthe eyelet shank 174. For convenience of installation, two supportorifices (hence two positions for the support) are provided The user canalso, if so desired, install a second support for more bird feeders. Thebird feeders are typically hung through the eyelets.

A closer look at the ornamental plaque is found in FIG. 12, where theplaque has the plaque top 40, the plaque top through hole 180, theplaque mount 182, the plaque mount slot 184, the front mount flange 186,the rear mount flange 188 the plaque mount through hole 190 and theplaque base top 192. As can be seen, the plaque top is insertable intothe plaque mount, fitted in between the front mount flange and the rearmount flange, and is secured by means of a setscrew that enters themount through hole and engages the plaque top through hole. The benefitsof the plaque include the ease in which it can be installed, andtherefore the ease with which it may be interchanged, for variouspurposes such as seasonal treatments. The plaque base is likewise fixedto the post top by means of the post top through holes 166 whichcorrespond to the plaque though holes 160. The plaque base has thebenefit of sealing the interior of the post from the elements.

Another embodiment of a shroud of the present invention is shown in FIG.8, where the shroud 12 is in the installed condition on a post 20. Inthis embodiment, the shroud is essentially the same, however the uppershroud holes 134 are revealed and are the through holes that align withthe shroud cap holes 132. The shroud cap opening, however, has the shim130, which further includes the shim seat 131. Once the shroud cap isinstalled (in the direction shown), the cap can be secured to the shroudas mentioned previously, by sheet screws or other fasteners. The usageof the shim is a different feature, however, since it is intended totake up space between the edges of the shroud cap opening and the post,acting like a sizing shim. It can be fabricated from an elastomericmaterial and can be wedged into place to ensure a snug fit. Being thatit is a flexible material, the shim will still allow the shroud to“rock” as is desired, however it does operate as an improved seal.Versions of shims may be considered where they can be configured to beretained by the edges of the cap opening, or where they may be affixedto the cap by more affirmative means that may be available to oneskilled in the art.

One additional advantage of this alternate embodiment is the ability tofit the shroud assembly to different sized posts, which is done throughthe use of differently sized shims. For those occasions where the shroudassembly may be fitted to existing posts, outside of a kit approach.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show another embodiment of a shroud for use in thepresent invention. The shroud cap includes the cap shim 130 with shroudcap flange 114 is installed onto a shroud 12, and affixed thereto bymeans of fasteners threaded into the cap holes 132. The shroud includesthe shroud seam 140 and the shroud tabs 142. Reference to FIG. 10 showsthe shim as being inserted in between the edge of the shroud cap openingand the circumference of the post 20. In this case, the shim iscomprised of the shim bottom 150, the shim top 152, and the shim recess154. The shim may be configured as an uninterrupted piece, or it mayhave a parting somewhere along its circumference. A shim of the lattertype can be custom fitted to an application which may be required whereposts of different diameters are encountered or where weather or painthave altered the original dimensions of the post. The shim has a recessthat is compatible with engagement of the edge of the cap opening, whichhelps to retain the shim in place. As was the case for the shimdescribed above, the benefits include the enhanced sealing of the spacebetween the cap opening and the post as well as the advantage of beingable to size the cap for different sized posts; a desired attribute forretrofitting bird feeder posts.

The shroud in this embodiment is split longitudinally, (seam), whichallows the shroud to be opened slightly and to be placed onto anexisting post. This retrofit option is highly compatible with the shimassociated with the same FIGS. In this instance, the seam is secured forclosure by means of tabs that project through spaced and alignedopenings along the shroud seam and which can then be turned over. Thisis one illustration of many methods that may be used to provide closurefor the shroud in this embodiment.

FIGS. 15, 16(a), 16(b) and 16(c) all relate to another shroud capembodiment. The shroud cap assembly 210 includes the shroud cap top 212,the universal ring support 214, the ring support screws 216, the screwheads 218, the screw shanks 220, and the universal ring 222. The ringscrews are threaded through the shroud through holes 224. In this case,the shroud cap is integrated with the universal ring support. The ringscrews are extended, with longer shanks that project far enough toengage the shroud through holes. The universal ring can be fixed to thepost by tightening the screws down. This allows the shanks to be used tosupport the shroud cap which is a nominally flat piece with a centerhole 226. The shroud cap may lay passively on top of the assembly or, aswill be seen in the next embodiment, it may be affixed to the shroud.

The advantage of this version is that the installation of the shroud maybe completed largely from the exterior of the unit.

An alternate means for attaching a shroud cap to a shroud is shown inFIG. 17. In this instance, the cap 230 is installed onto post 20 bymeans of the shroud cap center hole 232. The cap extends outwardlytowards the shroud where an upper tab 234 and lower tab 236 are turnedappropriately to engage and retain the shroud cap.

The shroud assembly shown in FIG. 18 can be used in conjunction with theembodiments of FIGS. 15, 16(a), 16(b), 16(c) and 17, where the cap isallowed to “float” vertically along the post. In this instance thesprings 120 are affixed to the post spring holes 240. The lower springends 124 are also attached to the interior of the shroud but this isshown in the next FIG. As may be appreciated, the post spring holes arepunched out of the metal making up the post. This arrangement allows theshroud to float on a direct connection to the post, irrespective of thetype of shroud cap that is employed.

A shroud suitable for use with the embodiment of FIG. 18, is shown inFIG. 19. It includes shroud spring tabs 242, the spring tab forms 244and the spring tab openings 246. The tabs are formed towards theinterior of the shroud such that the spring tab openings can be engagedwith the lower spring ends.

FIG. 20 discloses yet another embodiment for securing the shroud to apost. In this instance, the post spring tab 250 includes the spring tabform 252 and the spring tab opening 254. The spring tabs in thisembodiment can be formed out of the material making up the post, or theymay be fabricated separately as brackets that are attached to the post.

FIGS. 21 and 22 teach another type of shroud. In this instance theshroud is halved. Specifically, shroud half 258 includes the shroudinterior 260, the shroud bottom 262, the shroud top 264, the shroud seamflange 266 which itself includes the seam flange holes 268. Located nearthe top of the shroud are the shroud top holes 270. When two halves arebrought together, as in FIG. 22, the junction where the seam flangesmeet forms the seam 272.

The shroud halves in this embodiment can be mounted onto existing posts,which is clearly an advantage, although this feature does not limit theapplication to existing posts only. There is some efficiency inmanufacturing this version since the shroud halves are easier to form.

FIG. 23 is an additional illustration of the present embodiment. Twohalves are brought together in a condition for installation on the post.The nomenclature and numbering for this illustration remains the same,excepting the front halve is given the designation (b) and the rear halfis given the designation (a) to more clearly show the difference betweenthe two. The Christmas Tree fastener 274 is shown with the fastener head276, the fastener shank 278 and the fastener end 280. The usage of theChristmas Tree fastener greatly enhances the ease of installation sincethe fastener need only to be plunged into the seam flange holes and thebarbs along the shank of the fastener will engage the opposing flangesurface and retain the seam flanges together.

FIG. 24 continues the treatment of the present embodiment with theaddition of the shroud cap 290, the shroud cap halves 292(a) and 292(b)and associated shroud cap flanges 294(a) and 294(b), and shroud capholes 296(a) and 296(b). This cap design is compatible with the usage ofshroud halves for the bird feeder post of the present invention. Thesplit cap approach preserves the ability to install the shroud onto anexisting post. FIG. 25 shows the same embodiment with the shroud capfully installed thereon.

FIG. 26 discloses the suspension means for the present embodiment. Theshroud halves are shown and springs 120 are attached to the post springholes 300 by the upper spring ends 302. The lower spring ends 304 areshown however the shroud spring holes that would be associated withtheir attachment to the shroud are not shown.

The versions of the present invention may be fabricated from suchmaterials and through such methods as one reasonably skilled in the artmay consider. Typically, the requirements that need to be met includesufficient support capacity for holding the structure and the weight ofthe bird feeder(s), and to ensure that weather and other environmentalconsiderations are contemplated to prevent corrosion or loss offunction.

The embodiments discussed herein admit to at least two commercialversions. One would be a kit whereby a complete post and shroud assemblyis provided with instructions for assembly. The advantages of postsegments become clear in this respect since the pieces breakdown forcompact packaging and reduced shipping costs. Virtually any of theshroud embodiments would complement this approach.

The other version would be a kit form for retrofitting an existing birdfeeder post. The need for posts or post segments would theoreticallyunnecessary, thus the focus would be on the shroud assembly. Asindicated, those shroud embodiments that would be compatible with anexisting post application would be preferred.

The ornamental plaque treatment is an enhancement to the bird feederpost that adds a cosmetic effect. It can be used on any open topped postof compatible diameter.

The objective of including multiple barriers to squirrel attacks on auser's bird feeder is a functionality that is uniquely married to a birdfeeder post design that readily assumes a commercially acceptable form.The end result is a far superior approach to an advanced bird feedersystem than has heretofore been known.

It is appreciated that variations from the teachings herein may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A bird feeder post for supporting at least one bird feeder, where thepost is subject to being fixed into the ground at the discretion of theuser and where the post has an upper portion, a middle portion and alower portion, and where the bird feeder post further includes a barrierpreventing pests from climbing said post and reaching the bird feeder,the barrier comprising: A displaccable shroud with an inverted tapersuspended in the middle portion of the post, said shroud including anupper shroud opening at the top center of said shroud and a lower shroudopening at the bottom with said post extending through said upper shroudopening and lower shroud opening; A ring support comprising a ring andscrews threadably engaged with said ring, where said ring is annularlyinstalled onto said post and fixed thereto by the turning of said screwsuntil they affirmatively engage said post, said ring support beinginstalled inside of said shroud, and where the ring support alsoincluding a plurality of springs that have one end of each of saidsprings attached to the ring support and the other end attached to theinterior of the shroud; and, Where said shroud is displaccable about sadpost when a pest attempts to climb the shroud, such displacementoccurring vertically and also in directions whereby a point on the lowershroud opening is brought into contact with the post, any of saiddisplacement of the shroud being restored to the non-displaced conditiononce the pest leaves the shroud.
 2. The bird feeder of claim 1, wherethe shroud further includes a cap fittable onto the top of said shroudand where said cap includes the upper shroud opening.
 3. A shroud forproviding a barrier for preventing pests from climbing up a postsupporting a bird feeder and reaching the bird feeder, the shroudcomprising: A displaccable shroud with an inverted taper suspended inthe middle portion of the post, said shroud including an upper shroudopening at the top center of said shroud and a lower shroud opening atthe bottom with said post extending through said upper shroud openingand lower shroud opening; A ring support comprising a ring and screwsthreadably engaged with said ring, where said ring is annularlyinstalled onto said post and fixed thereto by the turning of said screwsuntil they affirmatively engage said post, said ring support beinginstalled inside of said shroud, and where the ring support alsoincluding a plurality of springs that have one end of each of saidsprings attached to the ring support and the other end attached to theinterior of the shroud; and, Where said shroud is displaccable about sadpost when a pest attempts to climb the shroud, such displacementoccurring vertically and also in directions whereby a point on the lowershroud opening is brought into contact with the post, any of saiddisplacement of the shroud being restored to the non-displaced conditiononce the pest leaves the shroud.
 4. The bird feeder of claim 3, wherethe shroud further includes a cap fittable onto the top of said shroudand where said cap includes the upper shroud opening.